Catcher for plating-machines.



No. 677,055. Patented lune 25, |901. C. W. BENNETT.

CATCHER FOR PLATING MAC-HlN-ES.

(Application filed Oct. 15, 1900.) (No Mndel.) 3 Sheets-Sheet I.

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N0- 677,055 Patented me 25,1901.

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GATCHER FOR PLATINE MACHINES.

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No. 677,055. Patented me 25, 19m. c. w. BENNETT.

CATCHER FR PLATINE MACHINES.

(Applicaticn led Oct. 15, 1900.]

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s S 1H A H y 3o /l 4 ..5 I /Mc 8 l if 38 a l l l Y v UHNEY UNITED STATESPATENT CHARLES WV. BENNETT, OF ELWOOD, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO Tl-IEAMERICAN TIN PLATE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE AND NEW' YORK, N. Y.

CATCHER FOR PLATlNG-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 677,055, dated June25, 1901.

Application filed October l5, 1900. Serial No. 33,163. (No model.)

T @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. BENNETT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Elwood, in the county of Madison and State of Indiana, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Catchers for Plating-Machines, of which the followingis a specilication.

The object of my said invention is to provide 1o an efficient means tocatch plates, such as tin plates, as they emerge from the plating ortinning machine, carrythem over to a carrying-off table, and thereautomatically release and discharge them onto such table;

I5 and in my preferred form it consists in a revolving structurecarrying suitable magnets which are adapted to be energized as theyrespectively arrive at the point wherethe plates emerge from the rolls,and are thus en- 2o abled to attract and hold said plates by magneticforce and to be denergized when the opposite side is reached, and th usrelease and discharge said plates. Other automaticallyoperating catchingdevices might, however,

z5 be substituted for the magnets without departing from my invention.

A machine embodying my said invention will be first fully described andthe novel features thereof then pointed out in the claims.

3o Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereofand on which similar reference characters indicate similar parts, Figurel is a top or plan view of a plating or tinning machine and a carrying-3 5 off table therefor, with one of my automatic catchers positioned foruse in connection therewith; Fig. 2, an end elevation of such a machine;Fig. 3, a side elevation of my automatic catcher and fragments ofimmedi- 4o ately-adjacent parts, ou an enlarged scale, as seen from thedotted line 3 3 in Eig. 2; Fig. 4, an end elevation of the catcherseparately, as seen when looking in the direction indicated by thearrows from the dotted line 4t 4E in Fig. 3;v Fig. 5, a transversesectional View of the saine as seen when looking in the directionindicated by the arrows from the dotted line 5 5 in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is anend elevation, on a still further enlarged scale, similar in manyrespects to Fig. 4, but having some portions broken away to show theconstruction and arrangement more clearly; Fig. 7, a detail sectionalView, on a similar scale, as seen when looking in the directionindicated by the arrows from the dotted line 7 7 in Figs. 4 and 6; andFig. 8, a detail sectional view as seen when looking in the directionindicated by the arrows from the dotted line S 8 in Fig. 6.

Neither the plating-machine proper nor the 6o carrying-off tableconstitutes any part of my present invention, these being separate anddistinct inventions which form the subjectmatter of my other patents,Nos. G7 7 ,054 and 677,056, of same date with this. As will be readilyunderstood,therefore,the machine and the table may be of any suitable ordesired form, and so will not be further described herein exceptincidentally in describing my invention. 7o

The operation, briefly stated, is that the sheets to be plated or tinnedare passed through the tinning-machine M in the usual way, and as theyemerge from the rolls R thereof are seized by the automatic catcher 7'5formingl the subject-matter of my present invention, carried over, anddelivered over the slides S to the carrying-01T table T.

As is common in the manufacture of tinplate, the tinning-machine is of aduplex 8o character, (or, in other words, is double the width necessaryto receive a single sheet of tin,) and tin sheets are therefore putthrough on both sides. For this reason my automatic catcher is likewiseof a duplicate construction and has separate sets of catchers or magnetsfor catching the sheets coming from the two sides of the machine.

In detail the structure shown consists of three disks or spiders l, 2,and 3, rigidly se- 9o cured to a shaft 4, which is mounted in suitablebearings on standards or frame parts 5 and 6 and is driven by a chainbelt 7, running to a sprocket-wheel 8 from a correspondingsprocket-wheel w on the shaft of the plating-machine. At suitable pointsaround the periphery of the disk are secured bars carrying magnets. Thebars 9 of one series are secured between the disks 1 and 2 and the barsl0 of the other series are secured between loo the disks 2 and 3.Arranged intermediately of the magnet-carrying bars 9 are plain bars 11,and between the magnet-carrying bars are plain bars 12. The bars 11 and12, while adapted to be adjusted radially, are when in position andready for operation bolted firmly to the several spiders or disks 1 and3 and are rigid therewith. The bars 9 and 10, carrying the magnets, arealso adjustable radially, are pivotally mounted on the spiders or disks`as by pivot-bolts p, (see Fig. 8,) and are capable of swinging to oneside or the other in case of necessity, their movement being limited bystops sand s', as best shown in Fig. 5. This is so that the magnets mayadjust themselves to take a fair hold ot' the sheets of tin as suchsheets come in contact therewith, said magnets being thus capable ofshifting a little one way or the other in order that they may betteradapt themselves to their work.

The radial adjustment of the various bars enables me to secure theproper relation between the peripheral speed of the rolls of theplating-machine and the peripheral speed of what may be termed theoperative surface of my automatic catcher. These speeds should bepractically the same; but it is obvious that the arrangement must besuch that the plates will be instantly removed from Contact with therolls of the plating-machine when they emerge from such rolls, and forthis reason in practice it is better to arrange the parts so that theoperative peripheral speed of the catcher will be very slightly inexcess of the peripheral speed of said rolls, so that the sheets will beput under something of a puliing strain just before they finally emerge.It is also obvious that there must be no perceptible movement of themagnet ends or other catching devices over the surfaces of the sheets,asthis would scratch and mar them. As above stated, the magnet-carryingbars are pivotally mounted and are arranged between stops s and s.Tensile springs S are also provided, as shown in Fig. 5, which normallyhold the magnet-carrying bars toward or against the stops s. As will bereadily understood, it the plates become attached thereto just beforetheir lower edges emerge from the rolls of the plating-machine thesesprings may give way somewhat under the resultant pull and instantlyafter the lower edges of the plates have escaped from the rolls willoperate to d raw the plates out of contact therewith, with theadvantages stated.

On the outside ot the spider or disk 1 and secured rigidly to thestandard or Aframe part 5 is a suitable commutator. For purposes of simplicity and cheapness I construct this commutator with a non-conductingcenter C, preferably of wood, upon which I secure two commutator-rings13 and 14e. The inner one ot these rings 13, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6,is divided into two parts, insulated from each other, one part of whichis dead,7 while the other part is connected to the incoming linewire.The other ring is continuous and is connected to the outgoing line-wire.Upon the spider or disk 1 are the positive commutator-brushes 15, 16,l17, 18, 19, and 20, through which in turn as the catcher revolves anelectric current is transmitted to the several magnet-circuits. Saidspider also carries two negative commutator-brushes 21 and 22, by whichthe current is carried away. The positive comm utator-brushes contactwith the divided commutator-ring 13, and the negative commutator-brushescontact with the continuous commutator-ring 14. It will thus be seenthat the commutator is so constructed that the magnet-circuits above acentral horizontal line taken therethrough are live7 or energized, whilethose below the line are dead or denergized. As the commutator-disks arestationary and the structure carrying the sets ot magnets and thebrushes is rotary, this relative relation is easily maintained. Byarranging the two parts of ring 13 eccentric or overlapping, as shown, aquick,'sharp break in the circuit is secured and also a quick contactwith the live section and closing of the circuit, as the brushes passover these joints with a spring and snap that makes and breaks thecircuit instantaneously. This is important, as otherwise there would :bedanger of the brush being in contact with both the live and the deadsection ot the ring fora short period and form a ground or shortcircuit, which would be destructive of both commutator and brushes.

In detail the current is supplied from any suitable source of electricalenergy coming in over the incoming line-wire 30, which is connected toone-half ot the ring 13. The connected half of this disk when thecurrent is on is live, while the lower half is dead, The current passesthence through such 0E the brushes (15 to 20, inclusive) as are incontact with the live half of the ring 13 to the sets of magnets, tovwhich the wires leading from said brushes, respectively, run throughsaid magnets, and thence out through the brushes 21 or 22 and the ringlet to the outgoing linewire 3st. The wires leading back from theseveral sets of magnets to the outgoing linewire brushes are allconnected together by means of a loop or bridge wire 50, as shown inFig. 5.

I will now proceed to trace certain of the electrical current in detail.Beginning, for example, with the circuit including the positive brush15, the current (asin all cases) comes in through the incoming line-wire30 to the live half ot' the commutator-ring 13, thence to the brush 15,thence by way of the wire 31 to the sets ot` magnets 32, thence by wayof the return-wire 33 and the common or bridge wire 50 to the brushes 21and 22, thence to the commutator-ring 11i, and out through the outgoingline-wire 3%. IVhen the positive brush 1G reaches the point where it isin contact with the live half o f the ring 13, the current comes in asbefore through the incoming line-wire 30 thereto,'and thence by the saidbrush 16, thence by the wire 35 to IOO IIO

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the set of magnets 36, and back by Way of the return-wire 37 to thecommon or bridge wire 50, and thence out as before. Vhen the positivebrush 17 has reached the proper point, the course is in through the wire30,

live half of ring 13, and brush 17 to wire 47, set of magnets 3S,through the return-wire 40 to the common or bridge wire 50 as before,and thence out through the negative brushes 21 and 22 and commutator-ring 14 to the outgoing line-wire 34.

The electrical connections embodying the sets of magnets 32, 36, and 38having been described it will be readily understood that the connectionsto the sets of magnets 39, 41, and 42 are similar, and a descriptionthereof becomes unnecessary.

The three sets of magnets 32, 3S, and 39 are shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Thesets of magnets 36, 41, and 42 are only shown in Fig. 3. The course ofthe wires (or electrical connections) to the magnets 36, 41, and 42 are,however, indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 5. That these lead to aposition near the bars 11 has no significance, save that the magnets ofone set are opposite the bars of the other set, and that therefore thewires necessarily lead under the bars of the first set to the magets ofthe second set.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, in a plating-machine, of an automatic catcher havingsets of electromagnets thereon, and suitable electrical connections forenergizing and denergizing said magnets, said catcher comprising asingle cylindrical frame mounted on a shaft to revolve and bring thesets of magnets successively'near the sheets of tin as they emerge fromthe rolls of the plating-machine, and said electrical connections beingarranged to cause the magnets to become energized as they approach thesesheets, and to be denergized when the sheets carried thereby reach thepoint Where they are to be delivered, and thus release said sheets atthat point.

2. The combinatiomin an automatic catcher, of a revolving cylindricalstructure, electromagnets carried thereby, positive and negative brushesalso carried thereby, a stationary commutator comprising two ringssurrounding a suitable base alongside said structure, with one of whichthe incoming line-wire and the positive brushes connect, which ring isvformed in two parts one of which is live and the other dead with anabrupt offset between them, and with the other of which the outgoingline-wire and the negative brushes connect, and suitable connectionsrunning through the several sets of magnets from thev positive brushesto the negative brushes, substantially as set forth.

3. The combinat.ion,in an automatic catcher for plating-machines, of acylindrical revoluble structure, a series of electromagnets carried bythe said structure, a series of brushes also carried by the saidstructure a part of which are connected to the incoming linewire and apart to the outgoing line-wire, a stationary commutator positionedalongside the revoluble structure comprising two rings with one of whichthe incoming line-wire connects and upon which the corresponding brushesbear, and with the other of which the outgoing line-wire connects andupon which the corresponding brushes bear, said commutator being adaptedto alternatively make and break electrical connections whereby themagnets are energized during a portion of the revolution of thestructure and denergized durin g another portion of the revolution andthus adapted to attract and hold the sheets from the time they emergefrom the rolls of the platingmachine until they reach the delivery-pointand there release them.

4. In an automatic catcher, the combination, of a rotary structurecarrying electromagnets, brushes mounted on said structure to travel ina circular path, a commutator alongside said structure comprising rings,one ot' which is in two parts one live and one dead,7 a sharp oisetbeing provided between them, and suitable electrical connections,substantially as set forth.

5. The combination,in anautomatic catcher, of a revoluble structure,catchercarrying bars pivotally secured in said structure and providedwith stops whereby they are permitted a limited movement, and springsattached thereto and which normally hold said bars toward or against thestops on one side,where by said catcher-carrying bars are permitted toyield somewhat when the sheets are seized by the catchers j ust beforethe lower edges of 'said sheets escape `from the rolls of theplating-machine, and to operate under the force of the springs towithdraw said sheets instantly from contact with said rolls as theyescape therefrom, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination,in an automatic catcher, of a revolving structure,bars pivotally secured in said structure and provided with stops wherebythey are permitted a limited movement, catching devices mounted on saidbars, means for actuating said catching devices and thus seizing thesheets at a certain point in the revolution of the structure, and meansfor actuating said catching devices and releasing said sheets at anotherpoint in the revolution of the structure,whereby the sheets are takenfrom one point around and delivered at another point by the automaticoperation of the device, the catching devices being also adapted toautomatically shift position somewhat and thus better attach themselvesto the sheets.

7. The combination, in a plating apparatus, of the means for dischargingthe plates from the plating-machine, a catcher arranged to receive themas they are discharged and to move at a slightly-increased speed overthat IOO IIO

of the discharging device, substantially as set forth.

S. The con1bination,in a plating apparatus, of the means for dischargingthe plates from the piating-rnachine,a catcher carrying catching devicesto catch said plates as they are discharged, said catcher being arrangedto move at somewhat greater speed than the discharging means, and thecatching devices beio ing mounted to yieid or give somewhat, subhand andseal, at Indianapolis, Indiana, this,

11th day of October, A. D. 1900.

CHARLES YV. BENNETT. [L. S.]

Witnesses:

CHESTER BRADFORD, JAMES A. WALSH.

